Extension-table



(No Model.) 4 SheetsSheet 1.

G. B. SMITH. EXTENSION TABLE.

Patented Jan. 4,1898.

arlawimzlf (N0 Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 2.

O. B. SMITH. EXTENSION TABLE.

Patented Jan. 4, 1898'.

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(No Model.) 4 SheetsSheet 3.

0. BL SMITH. EXTENSION TABLE.

- 155595551. Patented Jan.4,1898.

4 Sheets-Sheet 4.

Patented Jan. 4, 1898.

O. B. SMITH. EXTENSION TABLE.

E v i ,m v Q 1 y 1 w M 5 1 a y L T MUMWK m- A) E (No Model.)

m. m WWW W W UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES E. SMITH, OF ELIZABETH, PENNSYLVANIA.

EXTENSION-TABLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 596,551, dated January 4, 1898.

Application filed April 3, 1897. Serial No. 630,603. (No model.)

To a whom, it may concern/.-

Be it known that I, CHARLES E. SMITH, a citizen of the United States, residing at Elizabeth, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented new and use ful Improvements in Extension-Tables, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to that class of extension-tables in which the movable leaves are inclosed within the table-body and completely hidden from view when the table is closed.

It is among the objects of my invention to provide improved and simple means for connecting the extension-leaves to the longitudinal slides of the table, which may be arranged to permit the opening of the table at or near either or both ends or at the middle.

The invention consists in features of construction and novel combinations of parts in an extension-table, as hereinafter described and claimed.

In the annexed drawings, Figure 1 is a side view of an extension-table arranged to open at both ends, the extension-leaf at one end being shown elevated and the leaf at the other end being represented as lowered to permit closing the table. Fig. 2 is a partly-sectional end View showing an extensiondeaf provided with a drop-leaf at one end and elevated to its required position in an opened or extended table. Fig. 3 is a partly-sectional end view of the same, showing the extension-leaf lowered in the closed position of the table. Figs. 4 and 5 are end views of a table, showing, respectively, the raised and lowered positions of an extension-leaf having a drop-leaf at each end. Fig. 6 is an under plan of the extensionleaf of Figs. 4 and 5 with its supporting and operating mechanism. Figs. '7, 8, 9, and 10 illustrate hinges for the extension -leaves. Fig. 11 is a side elevation of an extensiontable arranged to open at the middle, showing one extension-leaf elevated and another lowered and partly inclosed in the table. Fig. 12 is an under plan View of an extensiontable arranged to open at the middle and showing extension-leaves provided with dropleaves at only one end.

In the drawings the reference numeral 1 designates a suitable frame to which the tablelegs 2 may be attached.

The stationary top of the table is designated by the numeral 3, and a skirting 4 is provided at the ends of the table and also at the sides where the requirements for opening'and closing' the table will permit.

The table maybe constructed to open about one foot, more orless, from either or both ends, as shown in Figs. 1 to 5, or, as shown in Figs. 11 and 12, it may be constructed to open at about midway its length.

As a means for extending the table there are supported on the frame 1 a series of longitudinal slides 5, 6, and 7, arranged parallel with each other and which may be provided with dovetail connections, as shown in Figs. 2 to 5. In a table constructed to open at or nearthe ends the center slide-piece 5 is secured to the table-frame and extends the whole length of the table when closed. Each side of this piece 5 maybe provided with a dovetail groove, Figs. 2 to 5, for engagement with dovetail ribs or projections of the slides 6 and 7 on either side. It is not necessary, however, that both slides 6 and 7 should be dovetailed to the center slide piece. The slide-pieces 6 and 7 are extended only about half the length of the table and have a sliding movement each way. Should the table be constructed to open in the center, the outer slide 6 of one side and the inner slide 7 of the other side, as shown in Fig. 12, will be made to extend the length of the closed table and remain stationary, while the other slide-pieces will be cut in two and arranged to slide either way. The arrangement of slidepieces 5, 6, and 7 shown in Fig. 12 results, however, from the requirements for the hinging of an extensiondeaf 8, having a drop-leaf 9 attached to only one end.

The extension-leaves 8 are attached to the extension-slides of the table by means of leaf hinges, Figs. 7, 8, 9, and 10, that are adapted to raise and lower the saidextension-table leaves at the same time that they permit them to have an endwise movement in a direction that is transverse to the table-top. Where the extension-leaf 8 is provided with a drop-leaf 9 at only one end, the hinges for raising and lowering that end of the extension-leaf may be so constructed and arranged as to constitute also the hinged connection for the said leaf 8 and its single drop-leaf 9, as shown in Figs. 2, 8, 11, and 12. I

Referring to Figs. 2 and 3, showing the preferred construction and arrangement of an extension-leaf 8, having a hinged drop-leaf 9 at one end only, it will be seen that there is secured to the outer side of an outside slidepiece 6 a hinge comprising four leaves 10, 11, 12, and 13. (More clearly shown in Figs. 8, 9, and 10.) It will be also observed that while the hinge-leaf 10 is secured to an outside slide 6 the hinge-leaf 13 is attached to the under side of the extension-table leaf 8 at its end, the hinge-leaf 12 is fastened to the under side of the drop=leaf 9, and the interme diate hinge-leaf 11 serves as a lever for rais ing and lowering the extension-table leaf and its attached drop-leaf. As shownin Figs. 8 and 9, it is preferable to connect the hingeleaves 11 and 12' by an integral solidly-cast bracket 14, so arranged that the said hingeleaves 11 and 12 will be always maintained rigidly in a position at right angles to each other. In the raised position of the exten sion table leaf 8, as shown in Fig, 2, the hingeleaf 11 occupies a vertical position, while the hinge-leaf 12 is horizontal, and thus these parts of the hinge serve as a bracket to brace and stay the elevated extension-leaf S and drop-leaf 9, the latter being supportedalso at one end or corner on a portion of the skirting 4 that projects sufficiently for that purpose when the table-frame is extended or drawn out to permit lifting of the drop-leaf 9, after which the parts of the frame may be pushed slightly together to bring acorner of the skirting 4 beneath the elevated drop=leaf. A little snap-catch may be made to add support to the other end of the drop-leaf 9, if necessary, As shown at the left of Figs. 2 and 3, that portion of the extension-leaf 8 is hinged to the inner side of an inside slide '7 by means of a hinge composedof threeleaves 15, 16, and 17. (More clearly shown in Fig.7.)

Slats or narrow strips 18 may be secured across the under side of the extension-leaf 8 to project beyond its side edges and bear upward against the bottom of the table-top when the said leaf is raised to hold the leaf perfectly rigid until released and lowered, but this is not essential. The extension-leaf 8, with single drop-leaf attached, may be raised to its elevated position by first extending or drawing out the table-frame and then taking hold of the little drop-leaf 9 and pulling it up, at the same time pushing the leaf 8 toward the other side of the table or toward the left, as in Figs. 2 and 3. If the extensionleaf 8 has only one drop-leaf 9 attached, as preferred, the skirting 4 will be puton even with the edge of the table-top, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, and the hinges will be so ad justed and arranged as to permit the dropleaf 9 to be readily inclosed, with the said 'leaf 8, by the table-body, when the extensionleaf is lowered. The extension-table frame may then be pushed together or closed in such manner as to completely inclose and hide from view the extension leaf or leaves and attachments.

Should the extension leaf 8 be constructed with a drop-leaf 9 at each of its ends, the tabletop 3 may extend beyond the skirting 4, as in Figs. 4 and 5. With this extension-leaf, having drop-leaves 9 at both ends, there are employed hinges of the three-leaf construction shown in Figs. 4, 5, and 7. The hingeleaf 15 is secured to each, inner slide 7, the

hinge-leaf 16 serves as a lever, and the hingeleaf 17 is secured to slides 19, Figs. 4, 5, and 6, suitably arranged on the under side of the extension-leaf 8, as shown. These slides 19 are arranged in pairs at each end of the extension-leaf 8, as shown in Fig. 6, and a crosspiece 20 is arranged to connect the slides of each pair,- so they may be made to move together. At the inner edge of each slide 19 there is secured to the extension-table leaf 8 alongitudinal guide-strip 21 to hold the slides 19 from lateral movement. A cross-strip 22 is secured to the longitudinal guide-strips 21 and projects beyond the same and across the under side of the slides 19 to assist in supporting the said slides. To operate the slides 19 for raising and lowering the extensionleaf 8, there is provided on the under side of said leaf a horizontally-arranged lever 23, fulcrumed at 24 to the bottom of the leaf. By means of links 25-, attached to the lever 23 at opposite sides of its fulcrum, the lever is connected with the cross-pieces 20, that unite the slides 19 in pairs, and so that the said slides at opposite ends of the extension-leaf may be moved simultaneouslyoutward or inward to raise orlower the extension-leaf on its hinges, as may be required, the frame of the table being of course first extended or opened out. In this construction the drop-leaves 9 are attached to the opposite ends of the extensionleaf 8 by means o f hinges 26 of the ordinary two-leaf form. When elevated, the dropleaves 9 may be supported by extended portions of the skirting 4 or by lugs suitably located on the table-frame; but I prefer to employ for this purpose buttons 27, Figs. 11 and 12, pivoted to the drop leaf or leaves and adapted to be turned so as to bear upward at one end against theunder side of the extension-leaf 8 and thereby support the drop-leaf.

The table may be provided with four, five, six, or eight legs, as preferred. ,When the extension-leaves are lowered within the tablebody, they are completely concealed,the tableframe being closed together, and whenever required the extension-leaves can be quickly elevated and adjusted in proper position for use. The length of the vertically-adjustable table within the skirting 4, there will be no difficulty in easily inclosing the leaves 8 and 9 when lowered by a proper operation of their hinges. There are preferably two hinges for each end portion of the extension-leaf. Being hinged to the longitudinal slides of the table the extension leaf or leaves will be carried beneath the stationary portion of the table-top when the extensible table-frame is in its closed position.

What I claim as my invention is 1. In an extension-table, the combination with the table-frame, the longitudinal slides, the stationary top and the skirting, of a vertically-adjustable extension-leaf having a drop-leaf at its end, hinges connecting the said extension-leaf and drop-leaf to the longitudinal slides of the table, said hinges being each composed of a number of leaves adapted and arranged to raise and lower the extension-leaf of the table in adirection of movement transversely to the tabletop, and means for supporting the said drop-leaf, substantially as described.

2. In an extensiomtable, the combination with the table-frame, the longitudinal slides, the stationary top, the skirting, and a vertically-adj ustable extension-leaf adapted to be raised and lowered in a direction of movement transversely to the table-top, of a dropleaf for one end of said extension-leaf, hinges composed of three leaves for connecting the extension-leaf of the table with the inner side of the longitudinal slides on one side of the table, and four leaf-hinges for connecting the said extension-leaf and its drop-leaf with the outer side of the longitudinal slides on the other side of the table, said four leaf-hinges constituting, also, the means for connecting the extension-leaf and its drop-leaf, substantially as described.

3. In an extension-table, the combination with the table-frame, the longitudinal slides, the stationary top, and the skirting, of an extension-leaf adapted and arranged to be raised and lowered in a direction of movement transversely to the table-top, hinges connecting the said extension-leaf to the longitudinal slides of the table, said hinges being each composed of a number of leaves adapted to impart a longitudinal movement to the extension-table leaf in raising and lowering it, a drop-leaf at-the end of the said extensionleaf,and means for supporting the raised dropleaf, substantially as described.

4. In an extension-table, the combination with the table-frame, the longitudinal slides, the stationary top, and the skirting, of a vertically adjustable extension -1eaf provided with a drop-leaf, hinges composed of more than two leaves attached to the longitudinal slides of the table and adapted to lower, raise and support the said extension-leaf, and means for supporting the lifted drop-leaf, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

CHARLES E. SMITH.

Witnesses:

WILLIAM EASTON, JOSEPH M. BAKER. 

